Sanjay Bangar backs CSK star as hidden gem in auction
In a rapid-fire segment on Star Sports, former India all-rounder and ex-Punjab kings selected head coach Bangar Matheesha Pathirana when asked to predict the biggest theft of the IPL 2026 auction. Bangar highlighted the Sri Lankan’s round-arm action, yorker accuracy and interplay as rare skills that can engineer tight chases, stressing that such variety is difficult to find in a high-pressure tournament dominated by batters.
Pathirana’s IPL numbers underline why he is considered a good choice even after an inconsistent 2025 season. He played a central role in CSK’s 2023 title run, taking 19 wickets in 12 matches at an average of just under 20, operating almost exclusively at the death and often finishing matches alongside MS Dhoni. During his CSK spell he finished with over 40 wickets in just over 30 matches, cementing his reputation as a specialist closer despite phases of expensive spells.
CSK’s decision to release Pathirana ahead of the 2026 auction was influenced by fitness concerns and a dip in control, with the franchise management publicly acknowledging that injuries and technical adjustments at his release point had affected his rhythm. Still, several analysts believe that this very release could bring his price down just enough for a smart franchise to get him under the big money, especially with teams like Kolkata Knight Riders And Lucknow supergiants who is known to be looking for a death risk specialist. Bangar himself has hinted that LSG, who has moved on, has left David Miller and rebalance their foreign mix, could view Pathirana as an investment with high upside potential in the mid-range
Who will cross the ₹15 Cr mark? Who will be the biggest theft deal of the auction? Dale Steyn and Sanjay Bangar make the wildest predictions ahead of the big day! 🔥👀#TATAIPLAauction 👉🏻 TUES 16 DEC, 2:00 PM on Star Sports & JioHotstar pic.twitter.com/HDzk4uTP8S
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) December 13, 2025
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Dale Steyn also mentions cheap weapons to think about during IPL 2026 auctions
Bangar isn’t the only former fast bowler bargain market in this auction Dal Steijn also taking into account possible thefts. In the same Star Sports interaction, the former South Africa spearhead pointed to fellow countrymen Gerald Coetzee And Anrich Nortje as players who could achieve returns well above their likely price tag. Coetzee has already shown glimpses of his value in the IPL Mumbai Indians And Gujarat titansclaiming 15 wickets in 14 appearances with a strike rate that reflects his ability to strike in short, hostile bursts even if his economy remains a work in progress.
Nortje, meanwhile, brings a proven IPL body of work with 61 wickets from 48 outings for Capitals of Delhi and KKR, built on high tempo, hard lengths and power play breakthroughs. Injury breaks and dips in form have dampened his aura somewhat, but franchises looking for an experienced enforcer who can bowl with the new ball as well as at the death are expected to keep a close eye on his price range. With Bangar and Steyn both predicting value in fast bowling matches rather than just big all-rounders, the IPL 2026 auction narrative is quickly tilting towards which franchise reads the fast bowling market the smartest rather than just the loudest.
Also READ: Aakash Chopra predicts the 5 most expensive foreign players in the upcoming IPL 2026 auction
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